The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 67: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

50 THE COURT OF LONDON not. This point I could not ascertain, nor is there any chance of discovering it. I have not the slightest doubt that the old woman is fully trustworthy. ‘ JOCELYN LOFTUS.” But scarcely had our hero penned the last words of his note when the thought suddenly struck him, with the dismaying effect of a lightning flash, that although the nurse brought the notes to him and carried his own to the friends outside, yet that it was quite possible for her to submit the whole correspondence to the prefect as it passed through her hands. This idea had not struck him before, and his heart now sank within him. He glanced up from the paper on which he had just been writing, and encountered the looks of the woman as they were fixed upon him; but there was nothing troubled in the manner in which she met his gaze. On the contrary, she evidently perceived that some mis- giving had suddenly entered his mind, and in a calm, un- ruffled tone she said, ‘“‘ I cannot convince you, sir, of my fidelity; but, after all, what risk do you run by trusting me? If I really am faithful, well and good; but if, on the other hand, I am all the while betraying you to the prefect, what alteration can it make in the circumstances of your position? You are not like a murderer or a felon, on whom heavy irons are put when he attempts to escape.”’ The truth of these observations forcibly struck Jocelyn Loftus; and even if he were not thoroughly convinced of the old woman’s fidelity, he at all events resolved to allow the matter to take its course. But to the note which he had just penned, he added the words, ‘‘ Nevertheless, use the utmost caution.”’ | The old nurse presently sallied forth with this letter; and in about an hour she returned, bearing a written reply which ran as follows: ‘‘ Your note is received, and in pursuance of your recom- mendation to use caution, we shall not commit any of our plans to paper. Suffice it to say that we are neither inactive nor irresolute. Miss Clara Stanley was residing in Stratton Street when we left London, a few days ago. ‘“YouR FRIENDS OUTSIDE.”’ Gomicbdooks (E(0)